Chapter 35 His Motive
Nicholas locked the apartment up and went down the elevator towards his car. He was sure that Alyssa would be ready to move into her new home today after meeting her new neighbor. Therefore, he had the apartment that belonged to her dad, cleaned up for her. It used to be occupied by corporate guests of the company when his dad was alive, but Nicholas preferred them to stay at a hotel instead. It was more convenient and less stressful that way.
He couldn’t erase the smile on his face as he drove over to his office. The prospect of meeting Alyssa and having her move into an apartment where he could see her anytime was too exciting to ignore. He had controlled his urges yesterday since it was her first day at work and he had no wish to frighten her away, but it won’t be for long. He would eventually tell her how much he desired her and figure out a way to fulfill his needs. If she agreed to give him what he wanted in return for more perks, his condition would surely improve, and he wouldn’t need to stalk her around. He wasn’t in love with her or something, just a crazy attraction he felt for her that robbed him of his peace of mind. A few kisses and a few nights of no strings attached, se were all he was asking for. Maybe it would help him get her off his mind once and for all, but he would wait for the right time to say it.
Upon reaching his office, he checked his schedule, and another plan started forming in his head to get closer to Alyssa. Could he take her out on a business trip for a few days? Maybe it would help him get closer to her!
There was a knock on his door and he looked up as a shot of excitement coursed through his body. “Come in,” he said, and went back to check his schedule. The door opened and the server from the café downstairs brought in his coffee. Nicholas was disappointed, since he had expected Alyssa at his door.
“Sir, should I get your breakfast now?” asked the server.
“Not now, John. Get it half an hour later,” he told the man, who nodded and left. Surely Alyssa would be here by then, and he could share his meal with her. Knowing that she didn’t like cooking, he figured out that most of the time, she skipped her breakfast.
There was a knock on the door, and he was immediately on high alert. Surely it was Alyssa now! “Come in,” he said, turning his attention back to the email he had been trying to draft since morning. The door opened and Alyssa peered inside, just as she always did. Then, seeing him at his desk, she walked in. Nicholas wanted to curb the smile that was battling to break free, but couldn’t.
“Good morning, Alyssa! Why are you looking so grumpy?” he asked, noting the way the black pencil skirt hugged her buttocks, exposing her long, smooth legs to his hungry eyes. He tried to ignore the way the soft satin top clung to her breats and concentrate on his laptop instead.
“Good morning, Nicholas. Nothing. I just met my new neighbor, Alexander, early in the morning. He wanted to know where I worked, but I somehow escaped his questioning,” she said, relieved at the narrow escape. Nicholas chuckled knowingly, while Alyssa gave him a look of surprise. “You know it, don’t you? You know Alexander has moved in next door to us.”
“Yeah, did you expect me not to know? Sit down, Alyssa. Have breakfast with me before you start your day. It will be quite exhausting as I have meetings all day with four clients and you would have to accompany me to all of them.”
Alyssa didn’t argue at all, but pulled a chair and sat down. The brush with Alexander in the morning had her totally exhausted, and she needed food in her system before she started work. “Thanks for offering.”
The door opened and John came in with their breakfast. After he left, they helped themselves to the food. Nicholas waited for her to announce her plans of moving out, but she didn’t. Finally, unable to stop himself, he looked up at her, determined to find himself.
“So what have you decided about my offer of accommodation?” he asked eagerly.
“I’ll move in today after work if that’s okay with you,” she said expectantly. Nicholas controlled his urges to break out into a happy dance. He had wanted this so badly. Finally, things were falling in place and it wouldn’t be long before he would have her naked and writhing under him as he pumped into her. The intensity of his desire shocked him. He wasn’t this way at all! In fact, he had never felt this type of need for anyone before. What was wrong with him? Was he turning into a creepy and frustrated workaholic?
“Yeah, I have no problems. I’ll help you move in,” he offered while his mind went into overdrive, making plans for his next move.
“Thanks,” she said without a fight and it pleased Nicholas extremely. They finished their breakfast, but Nicholas didn’t want her to go back to her cubicle.
“I want you to use that computer to draft this email. I’m forwarding you. All the pointers are included. Just read them and write a formal letter of proposal for our client, Finserve Inc. Email me after you are done.” Alyssa nodded and went away towards the computer at the far end of the room while Nicholas watched the sway of her hips with interest.
He blinked and took deep breaths to control himself and get some work done. Strangely, Alyssa seemed unaffected, and he wondered if she felt anything at all for him. Didn’t she desire him the way he did? He tried to focus on the mountain load of work he had for the day, but it was difficult with Alyssa sitting in front of her and chewing her lips, deep in thought. It was a mistake to make her sit here in his office. After half an hour, the torture ended, and she completed the task and went to her cubicle.
After two hours, he emerged from his office to go to the conference room when he saw one of his employees, Phil Roderick, of the marketing team, flirting with Alyssa in the pantry. Blood boiled in his veins and he strode towards them. “What is going on here? Mr. Roderick, don’t you have any work to do? I asked you to submit a report an hour back. I’m still waiting for it,” he growled, more with jealousy than at his irresponsible behavior.
“I was coming to you, sir, when I met your girlfriend.” His statement pleased Nicholas a lot, and he just waved him off while Alyssa frowned, displeased by this rumor going around the office.
“Leave it with Stacy. I’ll check it later.” Stacy McDowell was the receptionist on his floor and handled everything efficiently, right from the time his dad was alive.
Nicholas’s glance fell upon Alyssa, who was busy drinking water. “Alyssa, come to the conference room in five minutes.”
After he left, Phil released the breath he was holding in fear. “Is he always this way? How did you end up with him? He’s a workaholic and never had a girlfriend ever. All the women here are tired of chasing him,” said Phil with a laugh, making Alyssa’s eyes widen with disbelief. “At one point, we all started believing that he wasn’t straight. Now his sudden announcement has created a stir in the office and all the girls are jealous and broken-hearted.” Alyssa’s eyes widened more remembering the two women who had come over to confront her yesterday. She thought about what Phil had just told her and remembered Nicholas telling her earlier that he didn’t date. She hadn’t at all believed him then since, with his lethal looks and kissing prowess, it was almost impossible that he hadn’t kissed before.
“Well, maybe he was waiting for me all his life,” laughed Alyssa and walked away, but Phil’s words rang in her ears. She went towards the conference room but couldn’t drive a feeling of euphoria from her mind. Why was Nicholas so keen on claiming her as his girlfriend? Why did he help her? In her haste, she didn’t notice the door of the conference room open and Nicholas stormed out, but he stopped seeing her.
Alyssa collided with him and looked startled by his presence. His arm snaked around her waist, holding her close to him. To an onlooker, it would look like they were sharing a tender moment together, but Alyssa could see the fury in his eyes. “What took you so long? What were you doing in there with Phil?” he growled in a low tone.
“Nothing. He was telling me about the other employees. Everyone’s looking, Nicholas. Please, can we go inside?” she pleaded with him.
“Let them. They know that we’re in a relationship. We can kiss or do anything here and they wouldn’t mind at all,” said Nicholas, but Alyssa pushed him away and walked into the conference room with flushed cheeks. Nicholas followed her inside and her heartbeats raced, thinking if he would kiss her or not.